Saturday

Oct 27, 2018 at 3:01 AM

To the editor:

Question 1 will not empower nurses; it strips nurses of their professional autonomy. If this bill passes, nurses will not have the ability to create flexible staffing assignments tailored to meet patients’ care needs as it calls for rigid adherence to the mandated ratio at all times, without exception across every hospital statewide. A safe patient assignment is a fundamental necessity that is adaptable and assessed by the experts at the bedside, not by limiting the number of patients to be cared for by an arbitrary vote.

If this is approved, the government will control the professional practice of nursing, not the nurses. Nurses will not have the opportunity to create change within the profession. It is not accurate to say staffing ratios will positively affect patient outcomes. In fact, there are no evidence to support government-mandated staffing ratios in hospitals.

Nurses make decisions that advocate for their patient and save patient lives. The government does not know how to care for patients, but nurses do. Nurses are leading the way of healthcare. This ballot initiative would be a setback to the profession.

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READ MORE ABOUT QUESTION 1

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

The two sides have spent $28 million on the campaign as of Oct. 15, $17.5 million by opponents and $10.4 million by proponents. Most of the spending was on radio and TV advertising and ad agencies. The Massachusetts Nurses Association received $2.7 million from the yes-on-1 casmpaign.

Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care (Yes)

Coalition to Protect Patient Safety (No)

PRO AND CON

READ OUR CAMPAIGN COVERAGE

NATIONAL COVERAGE

The deadline for registering to vote has passed. Early voting has begun and will continue until Nov. 2.